Oil well electrical cable tensioning



W. B. PRIDY F eb. 25, 1969 OIL WELL ELECTRICAL CABLE TENSIONING I NVENTOR. WH57s'r/N5 B.Pe/.DY

MTTO/Q/VEY Filed Aug. 21, 1967 .Feb. 25, 1969 w. B. PRIDY on WELLELECTRICAL CABLEITENSIONING Sheet Filed Aug. 21, 1967 w I {NWT 6 6 o mmEl 6 M, 9 w 5 Z w 5 8 a a a F H INENR. wrETS77/VE ite Rental & ServiceCompany, and John M. Phillips, both of Long Beach, Calif.

Filed Aug. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 666,229 US. Cl. 16665 Int. Cl. E21!)41/00, 43/00; B66d 1/50 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portabledevice for:

(l) automatically winding electrical cable on a spool as sections ofsaid cable are intermittently removed from banded positions on stands oftubing as the latter are pulled from a well;

(2) storing the cable after removal thereof from a well;

(3) maintaining a desired tension on the cable during the tubing pullingoperation;

(4) maintaining a desired tension on the cable as it is unwound from thespool and rebanded to stands of tubing as the latter are lowered intothe well; and

(5) braking the rotation of the spool as the cable is intermittentlyunwound therefrom.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention A device forautomatically maintaining a desired degree of tension on electricalcable as the latter is unbanded from stands of tubing at the time thetubing is intermittently pulled from a well bore, as well as when thecable is rebanded to tubing as it is lowered into the well.

Description of the prior art During the past few years the use ofelectrical pumps on the lower ends of oil well tubing strings hasgreatly increased in popularity. Such pumps are supplied with electricalcurrent by cables that are banded to the tubing string. However, when atubing string to which a cable is banded is pulled from a well, thetubing is broken up into what is known as stands, which are stored untilneeded again, and the cable previously attached thereto stored on aspool, ready for reuse when the tubing is returned to the well.

Heretofore, no portable automatic device has been available for windingthe cable at a desired degree of tension on a spool as the cable isintermittently removed in sections from banded positions on a tubingstring, for automatically tensioning cable as it is re-banded to tubingas the tubing is lowered into a well bore, and transporting the cablesupporting spool to a desired location. The present tensioning device isportable, of relatively simple mechanical structure, and automaticallywinds electrical cable from a well bore on a spool under a predeterminedtension, as well as maintain a desired tension on the cable when it isbeing re-banded to tubing as the latter is lowered into a well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A tensioning device for so rotatably supportinga spool that includes a cylindrical core, two circular walls on the endsof the core, and a tube supported by radially extending arms in thecenter of the core that electrical cable may be automatically wound onthe spool as tubing with which the cable is associated is intermittentlyraised from a well, which device also serves to tension the cable apredetermined degree as tubing is intermittently returned to a well withthe cable handed to the tubing. This deatcnt O "ice vice is preferablywheel-supported, and permits a spool of cable to be moved from place toplace.

A major object of the present invention is to provide a tensioningdevice for automatically winding electrical cable on a spool under apredetermined tension as the cable is removed from a banded position ona tubing string, and automatically maintain a desired tension on thecable as it is unwound from the spool.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a wheelsupported framethat may be used to move a spool on which electrical cable is wound,from place to place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of theoil well electrical cable tensioning device;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the drive shaft for thespool, taken at the location indicated by the arrow shown in FIGURE 2identified by the numeral 3;

FIGURE 4 is a combined fragmentary side elevational and verticalcross-sectional view of the device, taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a portion of the tensioningdevice in a spool-supporting position;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical, cross-sectional view of the de- 'vice, taken onthe line 66 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary, vertical, cross-sectional view of the device,taken on the line 77 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational View of the tensioning device in anoperative position at a well side adjacent a tubing puller; and

FIGURE 9 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic system used on thetensioning device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT in FIGURE 8, a string of oilwell tubing A having an electrical cable B banded thereto is illustratedas being in a position to be raised from or lowered into an oil well Cin which it is normally positioned by a conventional tubing puller D.The cable tensioning device E of the present invention is shown inFIGURE 8 located adjacent the well C. The tensioning device occupies theposition shown in FIGURE 8, both when cable B is being wound on orunwound from a spool F rotatably supported thereon.

The spool F is of a type commercially used to supply electrical cable tothe trade, and as may be seen in FIG- URE 1, the spool includes a hollowcylindrical core 10 having two circular Walls 12 afiixed to the endsthereof. The spool F further includes a centrally disposed tube 14situated within the confines of the core 10, which is supported from thecore by a number of circumferentially spaced, radially extending arms16. Arms 16 are disposed adjacent the walls 12, and the outer ends ofthese arms are rigidly secured to the interior surface of core 10, withthe ends of the arms being aflixed to the exterior surface of the tube14. Tube 14 is of substantially the same length as that of core 10.

The tensioning device E includes a frame 18 that is preferably definedby two parallel, transversely spaced tubular side members 20, theforward ends of which develop into inwardly tapering extensions 22 thatmerge at a forwardly disposed apex portion 24. A trailer hitch 26projects forwardly from the apex 24, as best shown in FIGURE 1. Two stubshafts 28 extend from the rear end portions of the side members 20, andthese shafts r-otatably support pneumatic tired wheels 30, as also shownin FIGURE 1.

Two uprights 32 are mounted on the rear of side members 20 (FIGURES 1and 2). Two reinforcing members 34 extend downwardly and forwardly fromthe uprights 32, with the forward ends of the reinforcing members beingsecured by welding or other means, to the frame side pieces 20.

The cable tensioning device E, as illustrated in FIG- URES 1, 2 and 5,also includes two elongate arms 36 that are preferably fabricated fromstructural I-beams. Upper and lower parallel flanges 36a and 3612provided on each arm 36 are connected by a longitudinally extending web36c, as shown in FIGURE 1. Towards the forward end of each arm 36(FIGURE 1) two transversely aligned, vertically disposed plates 38 aresecured to opposite sides thereof. The plates 38 are affixed to theflanges 36a and 36b by welding or the like, to the longitudinal edgesthereof. The plates 38 on each arm 36, as well as the web 360 of thatarm have transversely aligned bores (not shown) formed therein throughwhich a pin 40 extends. Each of the pins 40 also extends through twoelongate, vertically extending supports 42 secured by welding or thelike, to opposite upper end portions of one of the uprights 32.

A heavy shaft G is provided as shown in FIGURE 3, that is of suchtransverse cross section as to rotatably and slidably fit within thetube 14 and project from each end thereof. Two longitudinally spaced,circumferentially extending rings 44 are secured to one end of shaft G,with the distance between these rings being somewhat greater than thewidth of one of the flanges 36a, as shown in FIGURE 3. A first sprocket46 is rigidly secured to the end of shaft G on which the rings 44 aremounted. Side members (FIGURE 1) are provided with two elongate,longitudinally aligned, rigid plates 48 which project rearwardlytherefrom. Each plate 48 pivotally supports a leg 52 by means of a pin50. A number of spaced openings 54 are formed in each of the plates 48as shown in FIGURE 1, and any one of these openings is engageable by apin 56 to hold the leg 52 with which it is associated in a desireddownwardly extending angle relative to one of the plates 48, when thepin extends through an opening in the leg 52. Each of the legs 52- ispreferably provided with a pad 58 that engages the ground surace 60 asillustrated in FIGURE 5.

A triangular heavy plate 62 is secured to the upper part of the frame,as may be seen in FIGURE 1, and an opening 64 is formed therein, asshown in FIGURE 6. The lower end of an inverted, elongate, cup-shapedhousing 66 is welded or otherwise secured to the plate 62, and theinterior of the housing is in communication with the opening 64. A pairof lugs 68 are secured to the upper interior portion of housing 66through which a pin 70 extends, as may be seen in FIGURE 6, to pivotallyengage an opening (not shown) formed in a second lug 72 that is securedto the upper end of a hydraulic cylinder 7'4.

Hydraulic fluid under pressure may be discharged into the upper andlower ends of the hydraulic cylinder 74 through conduits 76 and 78 thatextend through openings 76a and 78a formed in housing 66. A piston (notshown) is slidably movable within cylinder 74 and secured to a pistonrod 80 depending from the lower end of the cylinder. The piston rod 80is secured by a pin 81, or other suitable means, to the upper end "of atubular member 82, on the lower end of which a caster 82a is supported,as may best be seen in FIGURE 1. A transverse opening 84 is formed inmember 82 that may be brought into alignment with a pair of transverseopenings 86 formed in the lower portion of housing 66 (FIGURE 6), andwhen a pin 88 is extended through the above-mentioned openings, thetubular member 82 is held at such a position relative to the housingthat the caster 82a is disposed a substantial distance above the groundsurface 60, to permit the tensioning device E to be drawn by the hitch26 behind a suitable power vehicle (not shown).

When the tensioning device E is in a desired location, the pin 88 isremoved, and fluid discharged into the bydraulic cylinder 74, as willlater be explained in detail, to bring the caster 84 into contact withthe ground surface 60, to dispose the frame 18 in a substantiallyhorizontal plane. Thereafter, the pins 56 are inserted throughappropriate openings 54 to engage the legs 52, and hold the same indownwardly and rearwardly extending positions as shown in FIGURE 5,where the pads 58 are in direct contact with the ground surface 60.

A lug 87 extends downwardly from each arm 36, as shown in FIGURE 5,through which a pin 88 extends to pivotally engage the upper end of apiston rod 90. Each piston rod 90 is slidably movable in that it ispivotally supported by a pin 94 fromv one of the plates 48. Each of thepiston rods 90, as may be seen in FIGURE 9, is connected to a piston 900that is slidably movable in one of the cylinders 92.

Fluid may be discharged under pressure, by means later to be explained,through conduits 95 that are connected to the lower ends of thecylinders 92 to move the pistons 90a and piston rods 90 upwardly, withthis upward movement of the rods 90 pivoting the arms 36 from theposition shown in phantom line to that shown in solid line in FIGURE 5.When pressure is removed from the fluid in cylinder 92 by valve means tobe later described, the weight of the arms 36 will pivot the samedownwardly from the position shown in solid line to that shown inphantom line in FIGURE 5, or if the arms are allowed to continue to movedownwardly, to a position where the arms rest on the ground surface 60.

Two first stops 96 are rigidly secured to the upper portions of the arms36, and preferably slightly forwardly from the supporting pins 40", ascan best be seen in FIG- URES 1 and 5. Two slides 97 are provided thatare longitudinally movable on the flanges 36a of the arms 36, as bestshown in FIGURES 1 and 5, with the slides supporting second stops 98 Theslides 97 have vertically positioned bores 97a formed therein that maybe aligned with any one of a number of longitudinally spaced, verticallyextending pairs of bores 100 formed in the flanges 36a and 36b. Each ofthe arms 36 is provided with a pin 102 that may be extended through thebore 97a at any desired one of a pairs of bores 100.

In FIGURE 1, as well as in FIGURE 5, the slides 97 are shown as being sodisposed on the arms 36 that the first and second stops 96 and 98 arepositioned adjacent one another. A generally rectangular housing 104 issecured to one of the arms 36, as shown in FIGURE 2, which is providedwith a rear open end that may be closed when desired by apivotally-supported door 106. The structural details of housing 104 maybest be seen in FIGURE 7. A hydraulic motor 108 (FIGURE 2) is supportedby conventional bracket means (not shown) from the arm 36 most adjacentthereto, and this motor is situated adjacent to the housing 104. Motor108 drives a geared-down second sprocket 110 as can best be seen inFIGURE 9.

In FIGURES 1, 4 and 5, it will be seen that when the shaft E is extendedthrough the tubing 14 with the shaft resting on the arms 36 between thefirst and second stops 96 and 98, and the first and second sprockets 46and 110 in engagement as shown in FIGURE 7, the spool F is rotatablysupported on the tensioning device E. A spool driver 112 is shown inFIGURE 4 that includes a body 114 and an insert 116 of hardened teethwhich are brought into gripping contact with the shaft G by a chain 118that is adapted to be tightened, and extends around the shaft to holdthe body in non-rotatable contact therewith. The body 114 supports atransversely positioned rod 119 extending between two of the arms 16 ofthe spool F, with the free end of the rod terminating in a plate 120 toprevent inadvertent displacement of the rod from a driving positionbetween the arms 16. When the second sprocket 110 is driven by thehydraulic motor 108, the first sprocket 46 and the shaft E areconcurrently rotated therewith, as is the driver 112. As the driver 112rotates,

the rod 119 bears against one of the arms 16 of spool F, whereby thespool is driven in a direction to wind the cable B thereon.

The hydraulic system used in conjunction with the tensioning device E isdiagrammatically shown in FIG- URE 9. A cross piece 122 extends betweenthe forward portions of the frame side members 20 (FIGURE 1), and may beutilized to at least partially support the hydraulic system shown inFIGURE 9, as well as a tool box 124 in which wrenches and variousappliances (not shown) used in conjunction with the operation of thetensioning device E may be stored when not in use. The hydraulic systemincludes a reservoir 126 for hydraulic fluid and a prime mover 128,preferably in the form of an electric motor, that drives a hydraulicpump 130. The suction of pump 130 is connected by a conduit 132 to thereservoir 126. The discharge of pump 130 is connected to a conduit 134that extends to a check valve 136, which check valve is connected by aconduit 13 8 to the inlet of a manually adjustable, pressure-reliefvalve 140'. Fluid can discharge through the valve 140 and conduit 142 tothe hydraulic motor 108 to actuate the same. However, when the pressureon fluid in conduit 142 exceeds a predetermined degree for which thevalve 140 is manually set by a control 144, fluid then discharges fromthe valve 140 through a by-pass line 146 to the reservoir 126. Afterpassing through the motor 108, fluid discharges into the reservoir 126through a conduit 148'.

Three manually operable hydraulic fluid pumps 150, 152 and 154 areprovided (FIGURE 9) that are actuated by reciprocation of three handles150a, 152a and 15411 which are shown in FIGURE 2. The fluid inlets tothe pumps 150, 152 and 154 are connected by suitable tubing 155 to thereservoir 126. When it is desired to raise the arms 36 from the positionshown in phantom line in FIG- URE 5 towards that shown in solid line inthe same figure, the two pumps 150 and 152 are concurrently actuated byreciprocation of the handles 150a and 152a to discharge fluid underpressure through conduits 95 to the lower ends of the hydrauliccylinders 92. The pistons 90:: in the hydraulic cylinders 92 are thenmoved upwardly, together with the piston rods 90, to pivot the arms 36,in the manner shown in FIGURE 5, to a position where the arms aresubstantially horizontal.

When the pump 154 is reciprocated by use of the handle 154a, fluid underpressure is discharged from the pump through a conduit 160 to a manuallyoperable, three-way valve 158 to discharge fluid under pressure toeither the upper or lower portions of the hydraulic cylinder 74 throughthe conduits 76 or 78. As fluid is discharged under pressure through oneof the conduits 76 or 78, fluid discharged from the other end of thecylinder 74 flows through the three-Way valve 158 to return to thereservoir 126 through a conduit 162.

When it is desired to place a spool F on the tensioning device Epositioned as shown in FIGURE 1, the device is moved to a location wherethe arms 36 are disposed between the walls 12, with the arms extendingdownwardly, as shown in phantom line in FIGURE 5. The tensioning deviceE is then maneuvered until the core is in abutting contact with the arms36. During this maneuvering, the slides 97 are adjacent the free ends ofthe arms 36 and prevented from being inadvertently displaced therefromby lugs 164 secured to the upper part of the rear end portion of thearms. Thereafter handles 150a and 152a are reciprocated to pivot thearms 36 upwardly from the position shown in phantom line in FIGURE 5towards the position shown in solid line in the same figure. The secondstops 98 on the slides 97 prevent the spool F from rolling from the arms36 as they pivot upwardly from the position shown in phantom line inFIGURE 5 to that shown in the solid line in the same figure.

After the arms 36 are in the horizontal position shown in FIGURE 5, thespool F may be moved forwardly on the arms due to the shaft G which haspreviously been inserted in the tube 14 rolling along the upper surfacesof the flanges 36a. The shaft G is prevented from moving from atransverse position on the arms 36 by the rings 44 which are disposed onopposite sides of one of the flanges 36a. After the spool F has beenmanually rolled to the position shown in FIGURE 5, the slides '97 aremoved to the position also shown in FIGURE 5 and secured in a nonmovableposition relative to the arms by means of the pins 102.

The driver 112 is then secured to the shaft G (FIG- URE 4) to engage oneof the arms 16 of the spool F and cause rotation thereof as the shaft isrotated. Rotation of the shaft G is, of course, accomplished byengagement of the first sprocket 46 with the second sprocket 110. Thetensioning device E may then be moved to a position such as shown inFIGURE 8 Where it may be used to wind the cable B with a desiredtensionexerted thereon as the cable is unbanded from the tubing A, orused to maintain a predetermined tension on the cable B as it isrebanded on the tubing A as the latter is lowered into the Well C.

In using the tensioning device E for its intended pur pose, the deviceis positioned adjacent the well puller D shown in FIGURE 8. The wellpuller D includes a mast 161 that occupies the upwardly extendingposition shown in FIGURE 8, and a platform 164 projects outwardlytherefrom. A pulley 168 of relatively large diameter is affixed to thelower surface of platform 164. The pulley 168 may be convenientlycarried on the frame 18 in a cradle 170 (FIGURES 1 and 2) mounted on theforward portion thereof. When the tubing A is being pulled from a wellor lowered therein, the upper end of the tubing is engaged by atraveling block 172 that is supported by cables 174 from the mast 161.

Assuming that tubing A is being removed from the well C, as each standof tubing is drawn from the well, it must be disconnected from thatportion of the tubing situated therebelow, and the cable B must beconcurrently freed of the bands (not shown) which secure the cable tothe tubing. The cable B (FIGURE 8) extends upwardly from the well overthe pulley 168 and then downwardly to the spool F to be wound thereon asthe same is rotated. The relief valve is adjusted by the handle 144 todischarge fluid at such pressure to the motor 108 that the spool F willtend to rotate faster than the rate at which tubing A is withdrawn fromthe well to maintain a desired tension on the cable B. The motor 128, ofcourse, operates continuously, while pulling of the tubing A isintermittent due to interruptions as the stands of tubing aredisconnected from the portion of the tubing in the well C situatedtherebelow. However, as soon as the tubing A is moved upwardly by thetraveling block 172, the pressure on the fluid discharged to the motor108 is sufficient to automatically cause rotation of the spool F on thetensioning device E in a first direction to Wind the cable B on thespool as the cable is freed from the banded position on tubing A.

When tubing A is being run into the well C, the valve 140 is adjusted byuse of control handle 144 to reduce the pressure on fluid discharged tothe pump 108. The fluid discharged to the pump 108 at this reducedpressure tends to rotate the spool F in a first direction that isopposite to the second direction in which the spool rotates as cable Bis being lowered into the well bore C. As a result of theabove-described operation of valve 140, a desired tension is maintainedon the cable B as it is rebanded to tubing A. In other words, the motor108 tends to rotate the spool F in a direction opposite to that in whichit rotates as the cable B is unwound therefrom. The magnitude of thetendency to rotate in an opposite direction is determinative of thetension that will be maintained on the cable B as it is rebanded totubing A.

When it is desired to remove a spool F from the tensioning device E, theslides 97 are moved to positions adjacent the lugs 164, and the arms 36pivoted downwardly and rearwardly to permit the spool to roll thereon tothe ground surface 60 by force of gravity. After the spool F is sodisposed on the ground, the shaft G is removed therefrom for future usein supporting a spool on the tensioning device E. The slide 97 on thearm 36 most adjacent the housing 104 has a rod 176 projecting outwardlyfrom the second stop 98 thereon that serves to maintain the door 106 ina closed position when the slides 97 are in the position shown in FIGURE5.

I claim:

1. In combination with a spool having a cylindrical hollow core and twocircular walls on the ends thereof between which electrical cable iswound on said core, a tube longitudinally disposed within said core witha plurality of circumferentially-spaced arms extending radially fromsaid tube to said core, a tensioning device for so rotatably supportingsaid spool that said spool is automatically rotated in a first directionto permit winding of said cable thereon under a predetermined tension asan oil well tubing string to which said cable is banded isintermittently raised from a bore hole and separated into stands fromwhich said cable is removed for storage on said spool, which deviceautomatically maintains a desired tension on said cable as said standsare intermittently threaded end-to-end and lowered into said bore holewith said cable being unreeled from said spool and banded thereto, saiddevice consisting of:

(a) a shaft of greater length than said tube and disposed therein, withfirst and second end portions of said shaft projecting from said tube;

(b) a frame;

(c) first means for rotatably supporting said shaft in an elevatedposition on said frame, with said spool being mounted on said shaft;

(d) second means for rotating said spool concurrently with rotation ofsaid shaft when said shaft is supported by said first means;

(e) a first sprocket mounted on said first end of said shaft;

(f) a second sprocket disposed in a fixed position relative to saidframe and which drives said first sprocket when said shaft and spool arein said elevated position;

(g) a hydraulic motor for rotating said second sprocket;

(h) a prime mover located in a fixed position relative to said frame;and

(i) a hydraulic assembly mounted on said frame that includes a fluidreservoir, pump driven by said prime mover, check valve, manuallyadjustable relief valve, and first conduit means connecting the suctionof said pump to said reservoir, the discharge of said pump to said checkvalve, said check valve to said relief valve, said relief valve to saidhydraulic motor, said hydraulic motor to said reservoir, and secondconduit means for by-passing fluid from said relief valve to saidreservoir when the pressure for which said valve is adjusted isexceeded, with said relief valve when said tubing is raised from saidbore hole being adjusted to deliver said fluid to said motor under afirst pressure at which said spool tends to rotate in a first directionat a rate faster than the rate at which said tubing is moved upwardly tomaintain tension on said cable, with said relief valve when said tubingis being lowered and said spool is rotating in a second direction beingadjusted to deliver said fluid to said motor under a second pressure atwhich said hydraulic motor tends to rotate said spool in said firstdirection to maintain tension on said cable and act as a brake againstrotation of said spool in said second direction.

2. A tensioning device as defined in claim 1 which further includes:

(j) wheel means for movably supportnig said frame to permit said frame,shaft and spool to be moved from one location to another. 3. Atensioning device as defined in claim 2 which further includes:

(k) manually operable means for raising or lowering a portion of saidwheel means to dispose at least a part of said frame in a desired plane.4. A tensioning device as defined in claim 2 which further includes:

(k) hydraulically actuated means for moving said spool and shaft from afirst ground-supported position to said elevated position.

5. A tensioning device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first meansincludes:

(j) two transversely aligned uprights afiixed to said frame;

(k) first and second elongate arms pivotally supported at intermediatepositions between the ends thereof from the upper ends of said uprights,which arms are transversely-spaced a distance greater than the width ofsaid spool, but less than the length of said shaft so that end portionsof said shaft may rest on said arms, with said arms extending forwardlyand rearwardly relative to said uprights;

(1) two first stops on the upper forward portions of said arms againstwhich said shaft abuts when said shaft is in said elevated position;

(in) two slides longitudinally movable on said first and second arms,which slides include second stops that project upwardly therefrom;

(11) third means for holding said slides in any one of a plurality oflongitudinally-spaced positions on said arms; and

(p) fourth means for concurrently pivoting said arms between horizontalpositions and downwardly and rearwardly extending positions, which armswhen in said downwardly and rearwardly extending positions, and saidslides when adjacent the rear ends thereof, so dispose said second stopsfor said second stops to engage said shaft and permit said shaft andspool mounted thereon to be raised relative to said frame as said armsare pivoted upwardly to substantially horizontal positions, whereuponsaid shaft can be rolled forwardly on said arms to place said shaft inabutting contact with said first stops, with said spool then occupyingsaid elevated position, and said shaft being removably held in contactwith said first stops by moving said slides longitudinally on said armsuntil said second stops are in abutting contact with said shaft.

6. A tensioning device as defined in claim 5 which further includes:

(q) two longitudinally-spaced rings on said shaft that are disposed onopposite sides of said first arm and serve as guides to maintain saidshaft in a transverse position on said arms as said shaft is rolledlongitudinally therealong.

7. In combination with a spool having a cylindrical hollow core and twocircular walls on the ends thereof between which electrical cable iswound on said core, a tube longitudinally disposed within said core witha plurality of circumferentially-spaced arms extending radially fromsaid tube to said core, a tensioning device for so rotatahly supportingsaid spool that said spool is automatically rotated in a first directionto permit winding of said cable thereon under a predetermined tension asan oil well tubing string to which said cable is banded isintermittently raised from a bore hole and separated into stands fromwhich said cable is removed for storage on said spool, which deviceautomatically maintains a desired tension on said cable as said standsare intermittently threaded endto-end and lowered into said bore hole.with said cable lbeing unreeled from said spool and banded thereto,said device consisting of:

width of said spool but narrower than the length of said shaft; (d) twotransversely-aligned, first stops on the upper portions of said arms;

(e) two slides movably supported on said arms, which slides includesecond stops that extend upwardly thereform;

(f) first means for adjustably supporting said slides at any one of aplurality of predetermined transverse positions on said arms;

(g) second means for concurrently pivoting said first and second armsbetween horizontal positions and downwardly and rearwardly extendingpositions to permit said spool and shaft to be raised and loweredrelative to said frame, with said shaft and spool being movable from afirst position adjacent said arms to a second position on said arms, theend portions of which shaft when in said second position rest on saidarms in abutting contact with said first stops, with said shaft beingheld in said second position by manually moving said slides on said armsto positions where said second stop abut against end portions of saidshaft;

(h) a first sprocket mounted on one end of said shaft;

(i) a second sprocket so disposed relative to one of said arms as toengage said first sprocket when said shaft and spool are in said secondposition;

(j) third means for connecting said shaft and spool, at least when saidshaft and spool are in said second position;

(k) a prime mover mounted on said frame;

(1) a hydraulic assembly mounted on said frame that includes a fluidreservoir, a pump driven by said prime mover, check valve, manuallyadjustable relief valve, and first conduit means connecting the suctionof said pump to said reservoir, the discharge of said pump to said checkvalve, said check valve to said relief valve, said relief valve to saidmotor, said motor to said reservoir, and second conduit means forbypassing fluid from said relief valve to said reservoir when thepressure for which said valve is adjusted is exceeded, with said reliefvalve when said tubing is raised from said bore hole being adjusted todeliver said fiuid to said motor under a first pressure at which saidspool tends to rotate in a first direction at a rate that is faster thanthe rate at which said tubing is moved upwardly to maintain tension onsaid cable,

with said relief valve when said tubing is being lowered and said spoolis rotating in a second direction being adjusted to deliver said fluidto said motor under a second pressure at which said hydraulic motortends to rotate said spool in said first direction to maintain tensionon said cable and act as a brake against rotation of said spool; and

(o) fourth means for remova'bly holding said slides in a fixed positionon said arms where said second stops abut against said shaft when saidshaft is in said second position.

8. A tensioning device as defined in claim 7 wherein said second meansare hydraulically operated, and said device further includes:

(p) Wheel means for movably supporting said frame to permit said frame,shaft and spool to be moved from one location to another.

9. A tensioning device as defined in claim 8 which further includes:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,170,519 2/ 1965 Haagensen 16665 3,279,761 10/1966 Schreiber 254172 3,322,196 5/1967 Bodine 16665 JAMES A. LEPPINK,Primary Examiner.

U.S Cl. X.R.

